Drill rod clamp



Oct; 8, 1929. w, J, rrc 1,730,619

DRILL ROD CLAMP File Jan 1929 2 sheets-sheet 1 xmxmk. \A- mmmm InventorAttorney W. J. MITCHELL DRILL ROD CLAMP Oct. 8, 1929.

Filed Jan. 22, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Inventor Attorney I Patented Oct.8, 1929 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM J. MITCHELL, F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON DRILLnon CLAMP Application filed January 22, 1929. Serial No. 334,298.

drill rod is employed, and the drill rod is lengthened by the additionof sections there to to compensate for the growing depth of the well.Before an additional joint is in-' serted the driving head is removed,and before such removal the rod is temporarily clamped by the device ofmy invention while the changes are being made. In carrying out myinvention, the appliance'or device may with facility he slipped intooperative position with relation to the drill rod, the jaws are readilyadjusted for frictional engagement with the rod to secure a gripthereon, and the parts are held or retained in locked position while therequired changes are being made I In the accompanyingdrawings I haveillustrated one complete example ofthe physi cal embodiment, of myinvention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to thebest mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of' theprinciples of my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the clamp device of my inventionshowing its use in connection with a drill rod.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the clamp head, the jaws beingomitted, and showing the releasing mechanism for the jaws.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the gripping or clamping jaws,detached, and as seen from the releasing side 'of the jaws.

Figure 1- is a perspective view of the two jaws, as seen from the sideopposite to that of Figure 3 and illustrating the retaining recesses inthe jaws,

,Figure 5 is a perspective view of the releasing boltfor the jaws.Figure 6 is a perspective view of the retaining button for the jaws.Figure 7 is a side view of a part of the head showing one of the jawswith its locking button turned to release position,'and Figure 8 is asimilar view with the looking or retaining button turned to retainingposition.

In carrying out my invention I utilize the pair of jaws 1 and 2 havingthe complementary curved and toothed gripping faces for frictionalengagement with the drill rod 4.

The two jaws are supported in the rectangular clamp head 5 that isprovided with a supporting plate or base plate 6, and at one end thehead and plate are fashioned with an open slot- 7, so that the head mayhe slipped or slid into operative position with relation to thedrill'rod that is to be clamped, and with equal facility the head may bewithdrawn from the rod when not to be used.

A socket 8 is fashioned in the head, open= ing at the top and bottomthereof and provided with converging end walls as 9 and 10 the formerbeing a fiat face and the latter fashioned as undercut or dovetailgrooves,

one at, each side of the inner end of the slot 7, and the two jaws 1 and2 are designed to seat in the socket. The jaw 2 has a fiat, inclinedouter face complementary to the face or wall 9 of the socket, and theotherj aw 1 has 0 at opposite sides undercut ribs 11 001111316". mentaryto the grooves 10 and adapted to slide in the grooves. The jaw 1 has anarrow rectangular tongue 12 projecting from the ribs 11 which tonguemoves'within the slot 7 forguiding the movement of the jaw 1 as it movesup or down in the recessed head. The converging'ribs and groovesv andthe faces of the jaw 2 and-the'complementary face of the socket, due ofrctiona contact w ll and the weight of the rod when the latter is clampedin the aws, cause the jaws to grip the rod, and the heavier the weightof the rod the greater is the frictional grip of the jaws on the rod.

The jaws are released from the rod through pedal o jerated'mehha'nismth'at l-iftsthe jaws upwardly and away from the rod", andforth-is purpose the two jaws are provided within clined guide arms 13and 14 that converge on the same lines or are parallel with theconverging lines of the two jaws. These armsare' rigid with theirrespective heads and the arms are spaced from the alined sides of theheads so that they can fit into and be guided by the respective slots 15and'1"6 inthc sid" block 1'? oft'h'e'head. The block has'zr depthofappioxiiiiatcly, the depth of'the upper half ofthe head and the slotsare space'd apart and t; arranged"on converging line'scomplementary tothe converging members of the jaws and the hea d V x H Excessive upwardor downwardmovement of the jaws within their supportinghead is preventedby the use are pair ofturri buttons, one for eachjaw and comprising aretaining head I8 (mane end of a shank 19, that is jouriialed in a holein the wall of the socket, and the other end (if the shank is provided 1with a turning head or handle 21 exterior of the head. Each has anoblong recess 22 in. its face and an opening or slot 23 is pro vided atthe lower end ofeach recess, said slot being of'suflicient widthto-permit the shorter axis of theretaining button 18 to passtherethrough as indicatedin'Figure 71 Thus the jaw is slipped downthrough the top of the socket in the head, as indicat'ed in Figure 7,aiid then after the jaw has reached its operati've position, theretaining head of the turn button is turned toright angles, as in Figure8 with the longer axis of the retaining button or head across the widthoft'he recess 22; The retaining head thusperinit's'th-e required rangeof movement ofthe jaw, but also p'reventsits displacement due toexcessive upward or downward movement. When the jaws are to be removed,the aim btitton is turned'to position in Figure 7 to permit suchremoval.

is arranged in invertedpositi'oii; to-sl'itleina guide slot 26 locatedin the b o'cjk'l T between tlietw'oinclined slots? 15"a'nd16 vnd tl-ieup per face of the cross h eadis designed to fric emery engage tlieltiivffibe ends" or the are-e13 and I4 of the jawslfor' the urpose oflifting'the j measure bdlt'iselevated'.

A lifting" lever 2 8"i's pivoted at onefe'iid on the pin 27 with itsfulcrum pivot assessmenetf m srepresents 6*, andtlie free eIid (if thelver'is aimeuajs apedal 30;

It will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 1 that as the pedal 30is depressed the bolt and its cross head are elevated, and by the loose,frictional contact of the cross head with the two converging arms, thejaws are lifted to move on diverging lines and thus release their gripson the rod; The retaining heads-18 of the turn buttons permit thisrequired movement, and if desired, after the jaws have been releasedfrom the rod, the turn button of the aw 1 may be turned to releaseposition in Fi ure 7 so that the jaw 1 may be lifted bodily 'rom thesocket, leaving an unobstructed'slot'7so that the clamp device may beslid away from the rod to permit the required operations.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination in a rod clamp withpair of jaws adapted to move upwardly on' diverging lines, and a;socket'edhead for the jaws, of guide arms on the jaws andguides thereforon the head, a lift bolt havinga cross head for contact with said arms,and means for lifting the bolt. g

2. The combination with a head having guide slots and a socket, apairof'jaws in the socket adapted to move upwardly on diverging lines,and guide arms on-the jaws slidable in the slots, of a slide boltsupported intermediate of the arms and" provided with a cross'head forcontact with the ends of the arms, and a pivoted pedal lever for liftingthe bolt.

3. The eombination'with a head having a socket therein formed withanendl' slot, said socket having a tapered wall, and undercut taperedgrooves at the junction of the slot with the socket, of a pair ofgripping jaws one of which has a face complementary to the taperedwall,undercut tapered ribs on the other jaw for co-action with saidgrooves, a tongue on the latter jsaw movable in the slot, and means forlifting the jaws.

4'. The combination, in a rod clamp with a'socketed head andpair ofopposed gripping jaws therein, and means for lifting said jaws, of aretaining device for each jaw comprising a turn button having aretaining head, and said jaws each having a Wide groove in one faceand'a narrower, open slot communicating therewith, whereby the turnbuttons may be engaged in the'grooves or detached therefrom.

In testimony whereofl aflixiny signature.

WILLIAM J; MITcI-I'ELL.

